OCEANSIDE, Calif. (KGTV) -- An Oceanside family says they're "super lucky" after a nearly seven-story tall Torrey pine tree toppled onto their home.
The homeowner, Scott Volz, said he was moments from stepping outside under the tree to barbecue dinner. "Just minutes before I came out to light this thing...we heard what we thought was thunder," he said.
The couple ran outside and saw the tree had fallen.
Just moments earlier, Scott's wife had taken out the trash.
"This is my sister's house and we were standing in the living room when it happened. It sounded like a airplane crashed! It was so loud! And again very scary! This is a Torrey Pine 80- 100 ft," said Toni Strong.
Volz says the grill he was planning to use was completely smothered by the tree. His trailer was also damaged and his fence was destroyed.
“It's been kind of weird trying to even process it, that this even happened, so I was kind of in, I guess, maybe shock last night," said Volz.
An arborist tells 10News there are signs you can look for in a troubled tree, like if it starts to lean and gets more extreme over time. Also, if the soil around the tree is coming up, it means the roots are starting to shift underground.
The county experienced strong winds and rain Sunday night as a winter storm moved through the region. San Diego will get a break from the wet weather starting Monday before another system arrives late Wednesday.
